By Nwafor Sunday

After series of legal battle, a Federal High Court in Asaba, Thursday ordered the Department of state Service, DSS, to pay the sum of ten million naira, (N10M) to Anthony Okolie, the man it detained for 10 weeks for using MTN sim card once used by Hanan Buhari, President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter.

Okolie had in July 2019, sued DSS, MTN and Hanan Buhari over what he described as ‘Right Violation’. Upon that, he demanded the sum of N500 million as compensation for damages.

In his defense Okolie through his lawyer Tope Akinloye said he purchased the SIM card for N1,000 at a market in Asaba.

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His words, “On December 8, 2019, at Ogbeogonogo market, Nebu road, Asaba, Delta state, I purchased a SIM card with phone number, 09035666662, for the sum of N1,000 only and I received a SIM pack with accompanying documents as a result as evidence of purchase receipt,” the affidavit read in part.

Recall that DSS had said that Okolie was detained because his offence threatened national security.

But in its judgment, the Judge ordered DSS to pay him N10m.

Confirming the judgment, Akinloye said: ”I’ve been able to persuade the federal high court to award N10 Million naira sum against SSS for the 10 weeks detention of Anthony Okolie over an MTN sim card once used by the daughter of President Buhari, Hanan.”

BREAKING: I’ve been able to persuade the Federal High Court to award N10 Million Naira Sum Agaisnt SSS For the 10 Weeks Detention of Anthony Okolie over an MTN SIM Card Once Used by the daughter of President Buhari, Hanan.

— Tope Akinyode (@TopeAkinyode) May 14, 2020

Vanguard